Description

PLANET ECLIPSE GEO CS1

The CS1 signals the dawn of a new era for the Eclipse Geo line. Not just a facelift of a previous generation but a complete rework of the platform. Every facet scrutinized. Every aspect deliberated. From the ergonomics to the electronics, reliability to maintenance, and performance to aesthetics, the engineers at Planet Eclipse have left no stone unturned in that elusive quest for perfection.

The result? A radical departure from what came before. A new awakening. The CS1.

Before delving into the technical innovation that has gone into the CS1 just take a minute and look at the aesthetic beauty of this groundbreaking new marker; at how every component has been designed and manufactured to run seamlessly into the next. Note how the all-new POPS assembly blends effortlessly into the grips, which in turn run smoothly and uninterrupted into the frame and upwards into the body. Gone are the disjointed and disconnected collection of components found on other markers. The CS1 has been created with a holistic approach in order to achieve a new and striking panoptic design language. The attention to stylistic detail unmatched. The flow of the lines mirrored in the structure of the components. A work of art.

Part of the new aesthetic has been the removal of all external hoses and pipes. For the first time on an Eclipse marker all air lines run through the frame of the marker. This has been achieved by relocating the new SL5 inline regulator (HPR) to the inside of the frame. But unlike other markers that place the primary regulator in the frame, the CS1 retains a full size piston virtually identical to the previous generation SL4 regulator. The benefit of retaining such a large piston?

Well, primarily it means that the CS1 will run equally well on tanks of a very wide output range. The CS1 will work just as well on a tank with 850psi output as one with 250psi output. The secondary benefit of this is that the CS1 can shoot deeper into the tank without fear of plummeting velocities as the tank pressure drops.

The SL5 regulator is actually housed between the new POPS assembly and the frame with velocity adjustment through the bottom of the POPS bonnet. The construction is incredibly robust. And of course you will still find the helpful + and - indicators to help guide you on which way to make adjustments.

From the SL5 regulator air is fed through the frame and directly into the all-new ISCIS3 (Innovative Solenoid Controlled Isolation System) solenoid assembly. The air doesnt travel through any bodywork first, and all gas transfer ports between components (POPS, frame and ISCIS3 solenoid) use enclosed and captured gaskets rather than cheap o-ring face seals. Far more reliable and durable and able to deal with far higher pressures without fear of blowing out or leaking. The new solenoid has a single spool assembly that is manufactured in-house by Eclipse and which serves the dual purpose of controlling the position of the bolt and the supply into the firing chamber during the firing cycle.

Driven by a custom SMC pilot valve that is significantly over-rated for this application means the solenoid is robust and durable enough to handle the very worst conditions paintball could throw at it. And because every component barring the pilot is now manufactured in-house we have been able to make it completely user-serviceable - not that it should ever need it.

From there, the new ISCIS3 solenoid feeds air into the next generation IVCore drivetrain assembly. The IVCore was the first commercially available system to bring true decoupled breechsensing valve technology to a system tuned for reliability and efficiency whilst being completely dwell insensitive. Yet in this latest iteration, larger volume for the firing chamber, modified bolt port geometry and a larger adjustment range for the SFR combined with significant changes to the marker layout mean that all aspects of the shooting experience have been improved. Significantly smoother and quieter than the previous generation yet retaining the efficiency and unquestionable reliability that the IVCore brought first to the Geo, this latest evolution is the most refined yet.

But the improvements introduced with the CS1 dont end there. With the SL5 regulator now located in the frame its enabled even more exciting features to be added to the foregrip area.

The largest and most obvious can be found housed within the foregrip. Slide off the tool-less grip and you will expose a custom manufactured glass fibre composite battery holder. But rather than finding a regular 9V battery youll discover two AA batteries.

Running at a mere 3V, the CS1s advanced industry-leading electronics achieve better performance from AA batteries than the previous GEO did from 9V batteries. The combination of increased battery efficiency and the switch to AAs means that not only have the running costs of the CS1 been significantly reduced, but it will run off the same battery-type as all current high-end loaders. And when you do need to replace them, it can be done without the use of any tools.

With the foregrip off you also have access to the tool-less breech sensor covers. This means that the detents and the breech sensor can be fully serviced without the use of any tools. Maintaining and cleaning your breech furniture has never been as simple or straightforward. And as an added bonus, the breech sensor cover also reveals a spare set of detents for use in emergencies.

The rear grip frame has also been completely re-designed. Greater emphasis has been placed on the overall ergonomics and fit of the grips into the design of the marker. The grips run seamlessly into the frame, body and POPS. The grip is now constructed of two parts that overlap and lock together down either side of the frame. The rear section houses the now-magnified GUI (Graphical User Interface) and pushbuttons, all molded into one piece. The front section wraps around the front of the frame and up behind the trigger. All key contact areas are covered in micro texture both on the foregrip and rear grips. This texture ensures a steadfast purchase on the marker in the wettest and slimiest conditions.

As well as the regulator, the frame also houses the electronics. Designed and programmed in-house by our own electronics and software guru, the circuit board carries all the usual premium features you have come to expect from Eclipse: both Opto and Micro trigger switches; a super fast processor; and rock-solid transflective LCD module that can be read in the very brightest of conditions, something that other display technologies really struggle with. As always there are an extensive array of parameters that are adjustable either on the gun or through a new ePortal3 interface that utilises a standard micro USB port mounted to the board. Splash screens and firmware updates can be uploaded quickly and easily via PC and micro USB cable. E-Portal3 is available as a free download from the Planet Eclipse website (planeteclipse.com).

The trigger has also been reworked as a 2-piece design. Still running on widely spaced dual ball races, all trigger stops are now hidden so that no screws strike external metalwork leaving a far cleaner look. The CAD for the trigger shoe will be made available open source for those wanting something different, so they can design and make their own.

As with all Eclipse markers, one of the primary objectives and design criteria has been to make the CS1 as easy to maintain as possible. Its taken a lot of time and hard work to achieve, but at last the CS1 offers elegant hoseless design without compromise to reliability, ease of maintenance or teching.

The CS1 utilizes a new interface between the electronics in the frame and those mounted to the body, such as the breech sensor and the solenoid. Gone are the plug-in wire-type connections, replaced instead by edge-mount sprung terminals as used in mobile military telecommunications devices to provide reliable and durable connectivity. This type of interface allows the body and frame to be separated without the need to remove the grips or any of the electronics. Simply remove the two hidden frame screws and the frame and body separate effortlessly. This allows quick and easy disassembly to aid with rapid diagnosis and repair in the unlikely event of an internal issue.

The CS1 has been years in the making. Thousands of hours of design. Many thousands more of testing. To get to what you see before you. It really is a new beginning for the Geo. One we know youll enjoy exploring and discovering.